http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/research/worldofWorkNews/wit/ WIT is a free alert service, providing abstracts and links to workplace-related news stories covered in the major media. en-us 2009 Cornell University Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:37:30 EDT 5 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/employers-must-act-to-curb-sectarian-banter-in-the-workplace-1.933812 Labor report still finds problems in Scotland 2009-11-24 00:00:00.0 7530 A report released Monday, originally commissioned by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), found that sectarianism (discrimination based on religious sect) still exists in many Scottish workplaces. The study said that progress had been made towards reducing the discrimination against Catholics, but said that much sectarianism still exists 'disguised' as humor or light banter. The report recommended that employers create clear guidelines defining sectarianism vs. banter, create a safe environment where all employees feel comfortable, and do, report incidences of sectarianism, and that employers be required legally to monitor incidences of sectarian discrimination in the workplace. The report urged employers and unions to work together to create clear anti-discriminatory policies with clear penalties for incidents of sectarianism. The report cited a number of observed cases of discrimination, ranging from trivial 'banter' to property damage and potentially violent incidents. Click the link above to see the article "Employers must act to curb sectarian banter in the workplace", The Herald (Scotland). (JKW) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.freep.com/article/20091124/NEWS01/91124023/1320/DPS-teachers-to-vote-on-new-contract Detroit public schools, union reach tentative agreement 2009-11-24 00:00:00.0 7531 The Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Schools Teachers Union announced a tentative agreement today, after weeks of negotiation on a contract that ran out several months ago. Union and school leaders called the negotiations 99% complete, saying that after a short break for the holidays they expect to wrap up the final details next week, and schedule a vote by union members for December 5th or 6th. Particulars of the agreement were not released but spokespeople said that it would contain professional development programs, performance bonuses, a teacher evaluation system, and provisions for the development of new schools. The contract may temporarily increase the budget deficit faced by practically every school district in the nation today, but union leaders agree that given the state of Detroit schools, the reforms are necessary. Click the link above to see the article "DPS teachers to vote on new contract", by Tammy Stables Battaglia, Detroit Free Press. (JKW) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20091124/BUSINESS/911240311/Mandating+paid+sick+days+could+slow+the+H1N1+pandemic Government discusses mandated sick leave for H1N1 2009-11-24 00:00:00.0 7532 The House of Representatives continues to struggle this week with two bills proposed to curb the spread of H1N1. One bill would require five days of paid sick leave for workers sent home or told to stay home because of illness. The other would require seven days paid sick leave for all employees, including for parents forced to stay home with sick children. Both bills are considered only temporary and would expire after two years. Those in favor of one or the other of the bills say that about 34% of workers do not get any paid sick leave, that the CDC has advised anyone with a fever to stay home to avoid the spread of the virus, and that without legal sick leave, illness could put the jobs of some employees at risk. Opponents say that flexibility is more important in dealing with H1N1. They fear that required sick leave would force employees to cut other benefits, and suggest instead creating incentives for employers to allow paid sick leave. Click the link above to see the article "Mandating paid sick days could slow the H1N1 pandemic", by Brian Tumulty, The Ithaca Journal. (JKW) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/8373817.stm Stalemate strike finally ends in secret ballot 2009-11-23 00:00:00.0 7527 After eleven weeks of heavy tensions and strike, Unison union members voted Monday morning to accept a revised offer from the Leeds City Council. The strike began on September 7th, in a dispute over pay cuts proposed by the City Council. Both sides remained unyielding throughout October, with the City Council refusing to negotiate while the strike continued, and the union members refusing to accept the pay cuts from the original agreement. In late October, a first revision of the original contract was presented to the union, and voted down in a landslide - 92%. In the ninth week of the strike, talks began again, with City council members meeting in person with union officials. By that time, over 100 desperate strikers had returned to work, and some Leeds residents reported that their trash had not been picked up in two months. The City Council's second revision was accepted today in a secret ballot. Click the link above to see the article "Strike prompted by bitter pay dispute", by Louise Hosie, BBC News Online. (JKW) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/23/culinary-sides-stations-creditors/ Ongoing unionization battle happens, stays in Vegas 2009-11-23 00:00:00.0 7528 In a continuation of its years-long battle to unionize 13,000 employees at Station Casinos, the Culinary Union issued a report on the company's bankruptcy proceedings, accusing insiders of caring more about accumulating personal wealth - as evidenced by the $660 million that went to insiders in the company buyout, and claiming that with more responsible management the Casinos could have avoided bankruptcy entirely. The report theoretically allies the union with the Station Casino creditors, who have expressed similar beliefs. The Culinary Union, given its long history of anti-corporation campaigns and union-as-moral-opposites ideals, is no stranger to "strange bedfellows" however. Casino spokespeople have called the report 'silly,' and 'a waste of time,' and said that is has nothing to do with the union. The Culinary union has countered by saying it is their job to protect all workers. Click the link above to see the article "Culinary Union sides with Station Casino's creditors", by Michael Mishak, Las Vegas Sun. (JKW) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/11/16/daily58.html Florida's green economy receives Federal grant money 2009-11-23 00:00:00.0 7529 The US Department of Labor awarded a $1.25 million federal grant to the Agency for Workforce Innovation in the state of Florida, as part of the recent economic stimulus. The grant will be used to 'define and classify' green industry jobs in Florida, a task which will be undertaken by the Agency's 'Labor Market Statistics Center.' The agency plans to survey 60,000 Florida business and create a profile of green jobs in Florida, and the skills needed to possess them, specifically the skills associated with clean energy jobs. The survey report will then be used to develop training programs for job seekers interested in work in green technology, etc. The grant also provides for the creation of a 'green jobs portal' in the Employ Florida Marketplace online job posting site (www.employflorida.com). Click the link above to see the article "State work force agency receives $1.25 million grant", Bizjounals.com. (JKW) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-pa-harley-davidsonpl,0,5452385.story Pennsylvania Harley plant reaches tentative agreement 2009-11-20 00:00:00.0 7524 A tentative agreement has been reached between union members and management at a York, Pennsylvania Harley-Davidson plant, which the union hopes will convince the company to keep the plant open. Harley-Davidson has been seriously considering moving the plant to Kentucky. The new agreement, however, includes a pledge from the company to halt efforts to relocate the plant, which, assuming the contract passes, guarantees that York will retain the manufacturing jobs. Union negotiator Tom Santone expressed hope for the contract, saying he believes there are enough cost-saving measures included to convince the company to remain in Pennsylvania. The contract was distributed to union members Friday, and a vote is scheduled for next Wednesday, December 2nd. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said Thursday that he recognizes the state's chances for acquiring the plant have "greatly diminished." Click the link above to see the article "Harley-Davidson's PA plant thought likely to stay", Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press. (JKW) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/11/20/2009-11-20_stiffing_workers_labor_dept_names_park_slope_eateries.html 2 dozen Park Slope restaurants accused of underpaying employees 2009-11-20 00:00:00.0 7525 A recently released New York State Labor Department report revealed the results of a surprise sweep of 23 Park Slope restaurants conducted in April. The report said that all but two of the restaurants inspected have been charged with minimum wage and/or overtime violations, in some cases paying staff as little as $2.75 an hour. In several extreme cases, the Labor Department also found violations at sister establishments, bringing the total of restaurants in violation up to 25. Overall, 207 employees at the 25 eateries were underpaid by about $915,000. New York minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but wages for cooks, delivery drivers, wait staff and dishwashers at the restaurants ranged from $2.75 to $6.00 an hour. Owners of several of the restaurants maintain that they pay their workers fairly, and have complained about the charges. One restaurant manager who owes his employees $200,000 has said that he doesn't have the money, and will likely be forced to close. Click the link above to see the article "State Labor Department names Park Slope eateries that underpay staff", by Aleksandra Klassen, Jake Pearson & Ben Chapman, New York Daily News. (JKW) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.freep.com/article/20091119/BUSINESS06/911190404/1002/Business/State-jobless-rate-falls-to-15.1-employment-gains-hailed Michigan actually has good employment news! 2009-11-20 00:00:00.0 7526 A labor report released Wednesday in the state of Michigan has reported the first positive employment trend since May of 2007. Although Michigan's unemployment rate is still the highest in the nation, it has remained stable at around 15% for the last several months. This month, it is now revealed, the unemployment rate fell for the first time in almost two years, from 15.3% last month to 15.1%. The good news continued with the report's employment section: Michigan added 39,000 jobs in October, in business services, education, health, and construction. Manufacturing added a few jobs as well, but remains well below its usual high. Governor Granholm has given cautious praise to the report results, saying that while not yet definitive, the improvements are definitely something to be looked at in a positive light. Because employers will wait to be sure that a recovery is underway, real employment gains will likely occur slowly, but the report signaled hope for the struggling state. Click the link above to see the article "State jobless rate falls to 15.1%; employment gains hailed", by John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press. (JKW) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/business/19labor.html?_r=1&ref=business Unite Here defends against organizers' claims 2009-11-19 00:00:00.0 7521 More than a dozen organizers for Unite Here, the hotel and restaurant workers' union have accused the union of using a practice called pink-sheeting to intimidate and manipulate them. Supervisors get organizers to confess personal details about themselves and then use those details to manipulate workers. Organizers say that the tactics are wrong and that it caused them to lose faith in the union. The president of Unite Here, John W. Wilhelm says that the union has a very strong policy against pink-sheeting and that the campaign against it is a result of competition from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Last January about 100,000 workers broke away from Unite Here to join the SEIU. Click the link above to see the article "Some Organizers Protest Their Union's Tactics", by Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times. (SD) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-composers18-2009nov18,0,4733641.story Composers and lyricists try to form an unlikely alliance 2009-11-19 00:00:00.0 7522 The Society of Composers and Lyricists, a nonprofit trade group, is leading the drive for composers and lyricists to join the Teamsters. As one of the few remaining crafts within the industry that are not covered by a union contract, composers and lyricists have seen their wages continue to fall as studios cut music budgets. They tried to join the Writers Guild of America, but were instead referred to the Teamsters. Composers and Lyricists have not been represented since 1971, when the Composers and Lyricists Guild of America collapsed. Workers say that they just want what everyone else gets through a union contract Click the link above to see the article "Composers and lyricists make pitch to join Teamsters", by Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times. (SD) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8368730.stm AOL cuts costs; jobs 2009-11-19 00:00:00.0 7523 AOL says that it will cut around 2,300 of its 6,900 jobs as part of a restructuring effort brought on by its spin off by Time Warner. The company says that they hope to achieve a large number of the layoffs through a voluntary redundancy program, but will make involuntary cuts. AOL hopes to cut costs by about $300 million. The spin off will take place on December 9, ending an unsuccessful merger. Click the link above to see the article "AOL to cut one-third of workforce", BBC News Online. (SD) Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/11/18/2009-11-18_da_raids_city_newspapers_in_union_corruption_probe.html Union probe rocks New York newspapers 2009-11-18 00:00:00.0 7518 The office of the District Attorney in New York City conducted raids on a number of newspaper offices Tuesday in search of evidence in a union corruption probe. Newspaper delivery drivers from the 1,600 member Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union is the focus of the probe, though the union leadership has been unavailable for comment, except to say that they are cooperating fully. The search affected the circulation offices of several small newspapers, as well as the New York Daily News, the New York Times, El Diario, and the New York Post. The Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union exists within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has said it will not be involved in the probe. Click the link above to see the article "DA raids city newspapers in union corruption probe", New York Daily News, The Associated Press. (JKW) Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN1810432820091118 T-Mobile to face off with German-US union alliance 2009-11-18 00:00:00.0 7519 Union leaders from Germany and the United States have joined forces to work for labor organization at T-Mobile, the US subsidiary of German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom. The alliance has been formed between the Communications Workers of America and the German Union Verdi. Verdi will represent the US T-Mobile workers and the CWA at labor talks with DT in Germany. The CWA has accused T-Mobile of subjecting union supporters to illegal surveillance and intimidation. Union leadership has said that it is tired of the 'double standard' of good labor relations in Europe and resistance to education. They say the standard is not limited to DT, but that it will be addressed here first. Click the link above to see the article "US, German unions join forces on T-Mobile USA", by David Morgan, Reuters, Reuters. (JKW) Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EDT http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1811527620091118 Brazilian oil company faces strike in Peru 2009-11-18 00:00:00.0 7520 Contract workers at a Brazilian Petrobas gas lot in Peru have scheduled a strike for December 20th, in hopes of securing higher wages. The workers for both Petrobas and Swedish company Skanska are asking for a 10% raise, but have said that they remain open to negotiations up until December 20th. Alex Martinez, the chair of the Skanska union, has said that they will negotiate until the last minute, because they recognize that a strike hurts everyone - the workers and the company. Petrobas has been vamping up production recently as Peru looks to become a net importer of natural gas and oil. It is rumored that Peru officials discovered a large deposit of oil in their Amazon earlier this month. Click the link above to see the article "Workers threaten strike at Petrobas lot in Peru", by Dana Ford, Reuters, Reuters. (JKW)